Table of contents(13)+
- 01The 30-second test: is it the remote or the TV?
- 02Method 1: Pair a Hisense voice remote
- 03Method 2: Fix a Hisense remote that stopped working
- 04Method 3: Control your Hisense TV from your phone (free)
- 05Method 4: Replace a lost or broken Hisense remote
- 06Which Hisense remote option should you use?
- 07Frequently Asked Questions
- 08Can I use my phone as a Hisense remote?
- 09Why is my Hisense remote not working?
- 10Do all Hisense remotes need to be paired?
- 11What is the best Hisense remote app in Australia?
- 12Can I use any universal remote with a Hisense TV?
- 13Related guides
Your Hisense remote can be paired, fixed, or replaced in a few minutes, and your phone can fill in right now. Infrared remotes just need fresh AAA batteries and a clear line of sight. Bluetooth voice remotes re-pair by holding two buttons. Lost it? Control the TV free with the RemoteNOW or HiRemote app.
I run a Hisense U7 (VIDAA) in the lounge room and a Series 6 Google TV in the bedroom. Between them, I've re-paired the ERF-series voice remote more times than I'd like, usually after a flat battery. Here's what actually works in Australia, in the order I'd try it. That includes the free phone option most guides bury at the bottom.
The 30-second test: is it the remote or the TV?
Point your phone camera at the front of the Hisense remote and press any button. A faint purple light on your phone screen means the remote sends a signal, so the fault is the batteries or the TV, not the remote. No light usually means dead batteries or a Bluetooth remote that dropped its pairing.
This camera trick only works on infrared remotes. Bluetooth voice remotes (the ones with a mic button) send no visible light, so a blank screen there is normal. If your TV still ignores a remote that clearly lights up, jump to the fixes below.
Need the TV working this minute? The HiRemote app turns your iPhone into a full Hisense remote over Wi-Fi: power, volume, apps, and a keyboard for logins. Own a Hisense Roku model? The browser remote works with no install at all. Both are covered further down.
Method 1: Pair a Hisense voice remote
Most Hisense voice remotes pair over Bluetooth when you hold the Back and Home buttons together for about 5 seconds, until the remote's light blinks and the TV shows a pairing message. Standard infrared remotes never need pairing. They work the moment you drop in two fresh AAA batteries and point them at the panel.
Here's the reliable sequence for a VIDAA or Google TV voice remote:
- Put in two fresh AAA batteries. Weak batteries are the top cause of failed pairing.
- Hold the remote within 1 metre of the TV.
- Press and hold Back + Home together for about 5 seconds.
- Release when the remote's LED flashes and the screen confirms “remote paired”.
The exact button combo can differ by remote. Check the sticker inside the battery door for your model, or the full pairing walkthrough for every platform. When it still won't pair, the remote's Bluetooth board may be dead, and a phone app or replacement is the faster fix.
Method 2: Fix a Hisense remote that stopped working
A Hisense remote not working almost always comes down to a battery, pairing, or line-of-sight problem, not a dead remote. Fresh AAA batteries fix the majority of cases. After that, power-cycle the TV, clear the line of sight, and re-pair a Bluetooth remote. These six fixes solve nearly every unresponsive Hisense remote.
Run them fastest-first:
- Swap the batteries. Use two new AAA cells, not “tested” old ones.
- Re-seat and clean. Wipe the battery contacts and press every button to free a stuck one.
- Power-cycle the TV. Unplug it at the wall for 60 seconds, then plug back in. This clears most HDMI-CEC and input glitches.
- Check line of sight. Infrared needs a clear path within about 8 metres. A soundbar or plant in front will block it.
- Re-pair a Bluetooth remote using Method 1.
- Kill interference. Move nearby USB 3.0 drives or a router away from the TV.
If none of that lands, the full not-working checklist goes deeper. Honestly, though, once batteries and re-pairing both fail, I stop troubleshooting and switch to my phone while a replacement ships.
Method 3: Control your Hisense TV from your phone (free)
Yes, your phone can be a full Hisense remote, free, over Wi-Fi. Hisense's own RemoteNOW app and the third-party HiRemote app both control VIDAA and Google TV models: power, volume, navigation, and text entry. The one rule is that your phone and TV must sit on the same Wi-Fi network.
Set up RemoteNOW, the official Hisense app:
- Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi.
- Install RemoteNOW from the App Store or Google Play.
- Open it and let it scan. Your TV appears by model name.
- Tap the TV, then confirm the code shown on screen.
HiRemote works the same way and adds a cleaner keyboard plus a one-tap app launcher, which I prefer for typing passwords into streaming apps. If you own a Hisense Roku TV, the in-browser remote skips the install entirely and runs from any phone or laptop. For a side-by-side look at every option, see the iPhone remote app comparison.
The honest limit: app remotes need Wi-Fi. If your internet is down or the TV isn't on the network yet, the physical remote or the TV's own button still win. That's why I keep one working infrared remote in a drawer.
Method 4: Replace a lost or broken Hisense remote
You have three real ways to replace a Hisense remote: order a genuine one, buy a universal remote, or make the app your permanent remote. A genuine Hisense remote comes from Hisense support and matches your model exactly. A universal remote is the cheapest and fastest option on a shelf today.
- Genuine Hisense remote — order through Hisense Australia support. Best if you want voice and every dedicated button back.
- Universal remote — cheap and stocked at most electronics stores. Program it with a Hisense remote code. No voice, but it covers power, volume, and inputs.
- App as your remote — RemoteNOW or HiRemote, free, no shipping. The one I default to now.
Before you buy, note your TV's OS. VIDAA is Hisense's own system, standard across most Australian models, while some 2022-and-later sets run Google TV. Both accept the apps above, so a lost remote is never a dead TV.
Which Hisense remote option should you use?
Pick by what you actually need: voice control, zero cost, or working without Wi-Fi. The table below sums up the four Hisense remote options for a 2026 VIDAA or Google TV. Most people land on the app first for speed, then order a genuine remote as a backup.
| Option | Cost | Needs Wi-Fi | Voice | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genuine Hisense remote | Paid | No | Yes | A permanent, full-button replacement |
| Universal remote | Low, in-store | No | No | Same-day fix without Wi-Fi |
| RemoteNOW app | Free | Yes | Yes | Official control from your phone |
| HiRemote app | Free | Yes | Yes | Fast typing and app launching |
Setting up a streaming app and hate typing on a D-pad? HiRemote gives you a phone keyboard for logins, so a 20-character password takes seconds. It reads your Hisense TV over the same Wi-Fi, no account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my phone as a Hisense remote?
Yes, your phone works as a full Hisense remote over Wi-Fi. Install RemoteNOW (Hisense's official app) or HiRemote, put the phone on the same network as the TV, and it controls power, volume, navigation, and text. Both are free. The only catch is that Wi-Fi must be up, so keep one physical remote as a backup.
Why is my Hisense remote not working?
A Hisense remote usually stops working because of flat batteries, lost Bluetooth pairing, or a blocked line of sight. Swap in two fresh AAA batteries first, since that fixes most cases. Then power-cycle the TV at the wall for 60 seconds and re-pair a voice remote by holding Back and Home for 5 seconds.
Do all Hisense remotes need to be paired?
No. Only Bluetooth voice remotes need pairing, and they pair by holding Back and Home for about 5 seconds. Standard infrared Hisense remotes never pair. They work as soon as you add batteries and point them at the TV within line of sight. If your remote has a microphone button, it's the Bluetooth type.
What is the best Hisense remote app in Australia?
The best Hisense remote app for most people is RemoteNOW, Hisense's official app for Australian VIDAA and Google TV models, free on iOS and Android. HiRemote is a popular third-party alternative with a faster keyboard. Both need your phone and TV on the same Wi-Fi network. For Hisense Roku TVs, a browser remote also works with no install.
Can I use any universal remote with a Hisense TV?
Most universal remotes work with Hisense TVs once you enter the right Hisense code. Programming takes about a minute using the code list that ships with the remote. A universal remote handles power, volume, and inputs, but it won't do voice search or the Netflix-style shortcut buttons. It's the cheapest same-day fix if yours is lost.
